Shoe stretcher



A. PANOS SHOE STRETCHER Feb. 2, 1937.

Filed Dec. 10, 1935 R n Z n N NDM R w w M n 0 p n. m

Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel shoe stretcher, and particularly to a novel heel block adjustably mounted on the device and with novel means to pivotally mount the heel block so that the shoe stretcher may be easily removed from the shoe.

Another object is to provide a novel shoe stretcher of the character stated, which can be easily inserted and removed from the shoe.

Still another object is to provide a novel shoe stretcher of the character stated which is simple in construction and which can be attached to the usual toe stretcher now in common use in shoe stores.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of my shoe stretcher.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is an end View of the heel block.

Figure 4 is a side View of the heel block and mounting, the heel block being shown in tilted position.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of heel block.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral l indicates a toe stretcher comprising a pair of blocks 2, 3, which blocks are forced apart by a wedge 4. The wedge is moved forwardly to expand the blocks by a threaded shaft 5 which shaft extends thru a sleeve 6 pivotally mounted in the blocks 2, 3. This structure is usual and well known and the detailed parts form no part of this invention. This toe stretcher is common and all shoe stores have this type. It is the purpose of my invention topermit the use of the usual and inexpensive type of toe stretcher but to provide the same with a heel block so that the toe stretcher is more effective.

In order to force the blocks 2, 3 into the toe of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2, I provide a threaded sleeve I which fits over the shaft 5. A thrust plate 8 bears against the rear face of the blocks 2, 3. A handle 9 is fixedly attached to the sleeve 1 for the purpose of rotating said sleeve. block 10 comprises a rider II which is internally threaded to receive the sleeve 1. Thus, it will be evident that as the sleeve 1 is rotated, the rider will be moved back and forth upon said sleeve.

A heel yoke I2 is substantially U-shaped, and is pivotally attached to the rider I I, as shown at l3. The yoke is held in vertical position by means The heel of a latch I4 which is pivotally attached to the upper part of the rider II.

A pair of lugs l5, l5, project horizontally from the latch l4 and are adapted to extend into notches I6 in the top of the yoke l2, when the latch is in lowered position. Thus, the yoke will be held in vertical position to bear against the heel of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2.

By raising the latch M, the yoke 12 will be free to move about its pivot and the lower part of the yoke will then swing forwardly and the toe stretcher I can then be easily removed from the shoe, with a minimum amount of adjustment of the heel block on the sleeve 1.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have illustrated a modified form of heel block which consists of a rider H which is in threaded engagement with the sleeve 1, as previously described. The yoke I8 is pivot-' ally mounted on the rider ll about the pin l9. This pin projects from the rider and the yoke is slotted, as shown at 2|], so that relative movement is available between the rider and the yoke.

A pair of lugs 2| project horizontally from the top of the rider l l and these lugs are adapted to fit into notches 22 in the top of the yoke for the purpose of holding the yoke in a fixed vertical position. When it is desired to tilt the yoke, the rider is pulled upwardly. This releases the lugs 2| and the yoke can then pivot forwardly about the pin 19.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe stretcher comprising a pair of toe stretching blocks, a threaded shaft extending into said blocks, a threaded sleeve slidably fitted on said shaft, one end of said sleeve bearing against the rear face of said blocks, a heel block in threaded engagement with the sleeve, means pivotally mounted on said heel block, said means being tiltalole relative to the sleeve for the purpose of removing the stretcher from the shoe, and lock means engaging said first named means for holding the same in fixed vertical position.

2. A shoe stretcher comprising, a pair of toe stretching blocks, a threaded shaft extending into said blocks and mounted therein, a threaded sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, one end of said sleeve bearing against the rear face of the blocks, a handle on the sleeve, a heel block comprising a. rider, said sleeve being threaded in the rider, a yoke pivotally mounted on the rider, and latch means engaging the yoke whereby said yoke is engaged With or disengaged from the rider.

3. A shoe stretcher comprising a pair of toe stretching blocks, a threaded shaft extending into said blocks and mounted therein, a threaded sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, one end of said sleeve bearing against the rear face of the blocks, a handle on the sleeve, a heel block comprising a rider, said sleeve being threaded in the rider, a yoke pivotally mounted on the rider, a latch pivotally secured to the rider, a lug projecting from the latch and said yoke having a notch into which the lug extends, whereby the yoke is fixedly secured to the rider.

4. A shoe stretcher comprising a pair of toe stretching blocks, a threaded shaft extending into said blocks and mounted therein, a threaded sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, one end of said sleeve bearing against the rear face of the block, a handle on the sleeve, a heel block com prising a rider, said sleeve being threaded in the rider, a yoke pivotally mounted on the rider, latch means mounted on the rider, said latch means engaging the yoke whereby the yoke is held against movement relative to the rider.

APOSTOLE PANOS. 

